Written Answers Friday 4 December 2009

Scottish Executive

Asbestos

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to assess the presence of asbestos in public buildings and any potential risk to health.

Shona Robison: Legislation relating to asbestos is dealt with by the Health and Safety Executive and is a reserved matter. The Scottish Government is aware of the risks of those exposed to asbestos while working in the building and maintenance trades, and for those involved with asbestos removal. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 were introduced to place obligations on any person responsible for managing the maintenance and repair of a non-domestic building to manage asbestos within it.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to provide training in sentinel node biopsy to NHS boards.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concluded its feasibility study into extending breast cancer sentinel node biopsy across Scotland and, if so, what the outcomes are.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29331 on 3 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards (a) have and (b) have not implemented two-view mammography breast screening.

Nicola Sturgeon: (a) Two-view mammography has been implemented in NHS Fife, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Highland, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland, NHS Tayside and NHS Western Isles.

  (b) Two-view mammography has not yet been implemented in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Borders, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Grampian, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Lothian.

  All NHS breast screening centres are indicating that two-view mammography breast screening will be implemented by April 2010.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that two-view mammography breast screening is implemented by the April 2010 deadline.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are working closely with all NHS breast screening centres and they are indicating that two-view mammography breast screening will be implemented by April 2010.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that radiologists are encouraged to specialise in breast screening in order to meet the implementation deadline of April 2010 for two-view mammography breast screening.

Nicola Sturgeon: The delivery of mammography services is supported by a multi-disciplinary team including radiologists, radiographers and their support staff. Radiographers who are trained to national standards in screening and reporting work with radiologists to deliver safe and effective screening and timeous reporting for women. NHS boards are responsible for the recruitment and training of the workforce.

  All breast screening centres are indicating that two-view screening will be implemented by April 2010.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS boards have adequate accommodation to conduct two-view mammography breast screening in order to meet the implementation deadline of April 2010.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government Health Department has made investment in capital projects to extend screening centres and procure additional mobile units to increase capacity for two-view mammography breast screening.

Clostridium Difficile

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the commensal pool of Clostridium difficile infection is high in childhood, whether it will bring mandatory surveillance reporting into line with that in England and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Clostridium difficile organism is naturally present in the gut of a large percentage of children. However, it is rare for this to develop into an infection in this age group, and thus the numbers of patients aged 14 and under who become ill from Clostridium difficile are very low.

  Testing methods and diagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in children can also be unreliable and it is therefore not appropriate to carry out routine national mandatory surveillance for this age group.

  There are no plans at present to widen the age range below 15 years of age. Health Protection Scotland do, however, continually review the surveillance programme and will extend it should this becomes appropriate.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is to be no accountability in relation to literacy and numeracy during the first seven years of education under plans for implementing the Curriculum for Excellence, as stated by the President of School Leaders Scotland, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Michael Russell: Such an understanding of future assessment is incorrect. There will be accountability at classroom, school, education authority and national level for the achievements of children and young people at all stages against the standards and expectations in Curriculum for Excellence.

  Benchmarks at education authority and national levels will be based on a range of valid and reliable information including that provided through the National Assessment Resource and moderation practices.

  In addition, the Scottish Survey of Achievement will be refocused on numeracy and literacy in alternate years, beginning with numeracy in 2011. This will provide national performance information on literacy and numeracy at primary and early secondary stages.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the concern expressed by the President of School Leaders Scotland (SLS) that "developments in education, particularly those related to Curriculum for Excellence, are heading in directions which will not necessarily be fruitful for pupils" and what discussions have taken place with SLS in this regard.

Michael Russell: As stated by Ken Cunningham, General Secretary, School Leaders Scotland (SLS), in The Sunday Post on 14 June 2009 "We need a robust education system to meet the challenges of the modern world and this is just another step in a series of improvement to that system standard grades and intermediates are being replaced by a new qualification, to the same standards, but better reflecting what will be taught and better reflecting all we know about best assessment".

  Curriculum for Excellence has received continual support from SLS and the other teacher representative organisations and we will continue to work with them and our other partners on its full development. SLS is a member of the Curriculum for Excellence management board and its sub-committees. In particular, SLS was a member of the management board sub-committee which helped to develop the model for the new qualifications. SLS is one of eight members of the Qualifications Governing Group, which is overseeing on behalf of management board the development of the new qualifications. SLS is also a member of the National Assessment Resource Content Group, the Achievement, S3 Profile and Reporting Group and the Curriculum for Excellence Stakeholder Communications Group.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for (a) head teachers and (b) School Leaders Scotland in implementing the Curriculum for Excellence.

Michael Russell: Head teachers have a critical leadership role in raising educational standards and ensuring children and young people in their schools fulfil their potential. They are responsible for the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence within their school, in partnership with their local authority. School Leaders Scotland (SLS) plays an important and valuable role in representing their views and interests as a member of the Curriculum for Excellence management board and of its sub-committees. In particular, SLS was a member of the management board sub-committee which helped to develop the model for the new qualifications. SLS is one of eight members of the Qualifications Governing Group, which is overseeing on behalf of management board, the development of the new qualifications. SLS is also a member of the National Assessment Resource Content Group, the Achievement, S3 Profile and Reporting Group and the Curriculum for Excellence Stakeholder Communications Group.

  Indeed, it was as a result of the professional advice from SLS as a member of the management board sub-committee on the model for the new qualifications that the new qualification National 4, to be introduced in 2013-14, will not have an external examination.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the work undertaken by School Leaders Scotland on the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Michael Russell: The long-standing and continuing commitment to Curriculum for Excellence by School Leaders Scotland, together with the other teacher representative organisations, the EIS, SSTA and AHDHs, is valued greatly by the Scottish Government.

  Each of these organisations is a member of the Curriculum for Excellence management board. Every major policy development for Curriculum for Excellence has been developed and supported by the board. SLS has been a member of various sub-committees of the management board, including the sub-committee which made a unanimous recommendation of the model for the new qualifications and also the Qualifications Governing Group, which will oversee development of the new qualifications.

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the statement by the President of School Leaders Scotland in relation to the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence that "there is no doubt that the combination of unit assessments and coursework in every subject, plus the examination at level 5, will in no way reduce the assessment burden."

Michael Russell: The new National 4 and National 5 qualification will be introduced from session 2013-14. Detailed assessment arrangements for the new qualification are being developed and I am confident that the concerns of the retired President of School Leaders Scotland will be addressed during the development process. The retired president has said that she was reassured that future assessment would not involve unit assessments and coursework in every subject. School Leaders Scotland is actively involved in developing the new qualification and Curriculum for Excellence as a whole. For example, School Leaders Scotland is a member of the Curriculum for Excellence management board and the Qualifications Governing Group which is overseeing on behalf of management board the development of the new qualifications.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been considered for accreditation or commissioning for adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment and for what reasons.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to accredit or commission Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Nicola Sturgeon: Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been assessed by the National Services Division of NHS National Services Scotland on its compliance with adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) standards set by Leicester and the UK National Commissioning Group (NCG) for centres temporarily accredited in the context of H1N1.

  Aberdeen Royal Infirmary did not meet all of the accreditation standards, however it is the only site in Scotland with both adult ECMO machines and a clinical team trained by Leicester, and therefore can provide ECMO in the event that additional capacity is required, with the agreement and ongoing support and advice of Leicester clinicians.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a patient in the NHS Grampian area suffering from influenza A (H1N1) and assessed as requiring adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment would be transferred to the Leicester centre rather than be treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a patient in the NHS Grampian area suffering from influenza A (H1N1) and assessed as requiring adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment when the Leicester centre was full would be transferred to the Stockholm centre rather than be treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, in cases where the adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment facilities at the Leicester centre are at capacity, whether patients assessed as requiring such treatment will be transferred to the Royal Brompton or Papworth Hospitals rather than to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Nicola Sturgeon: The decision to refer for adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment is based upon individual clinical need. Where clinicians consider ECMO is necessary, patients from throughout the UK, including NHS Grampian, are referred for treatment to the UK’s nationally-commissioned centre for adult respiratory ECMO at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, following discussion and agreement with clinicians there.

  In the event that capacity at Leicester has been reached, there are robust arrangements in place to ensure that patients can be treated at the UK’s additional commissioned H1N1 surge capacity centres at the Royal Brompton and Papworth Hospitals or at the European ECMO centre in Stockholm, Sweden. Only when current UK and European capacity has been reached, and with the agreement and ongoing advice and support of the clinicians in Leicester, would a patient be treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since the start of the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak capacity to provide adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at the Leicester centre has been reached and how many days this lasted in each case.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since the start of the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak capacity simultaneously to provide adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment at the Leicester and Stockholm centres has been reached and how many days this lasted in each case.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment facilities at the Royal Brompton and Papworth Hospitals are accredited through UK national specialist commissioning arrangements.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Royal Brompton and Papworth Hospitals have been assessed and accredited by the UK National Commissioning Group (NCG) as centres providing additional surge capacity for adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment in the context of the H1N1 pandemic.

Health

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients who have died from the influenza A (H1N1) virus were considered for transfer to the Leicester centre for adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment.

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any patients who have died from the influenza A (H1N1) virus would have benefited from adult respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment.

Nicola Sturgeon: Individual clinical need determines decisions made regarding an individual’s treatment, and this patient information is confidential in each case.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding for additional staff is being made available to NHS boards to provide backfill for district nurses administering the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine to housebound patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: No extra funding has been provided to NHS boards for additional staff.

  However, the Scottish Government has offered to meet the re-registration costs of nurses returning to the NHS during this pandemic to support the delivery of services.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to address non-attendance at GP appointments.

Nicola Sturgeon: The reasons why people do not attend their GP appointments are many and varied. The priority is to improve systems to make them more user friendly and encourage patient responsibility. In different parts of the NHS a number of schemes are being tested to improve attendance, for example by the introduction of call ahead procedures to remind patients of forthcoming appointments.

  While GP practices, health boards and the Scottish Government are working together to minimise the impact of those who do not attend for their appointment, it is up to the patient to act responsibly and either keep or cancel any appointments they make.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Health Protection Scotland subtyping study to detail the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile will be (a) completed and (b) published.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Health Protection Scotland (HPS) subtyping programme is an ongoing survey. Data from the programme was first included in the HPS report Quarterly report on the surveillance of Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) in Scotland, January 2009-March 2009, published on 8 July 2009 and has been included in all HPS reports since then. The HPS quarterly reports can be found at http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/sshaip/clostridiumdifficile.aspx#quarter .

  More detailed information on the programme will be provided in the HPS annual report on the surveillance of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Scotland, which is due for publication in April 2010. The web link to the HPS annual reports is the same as the one provided above.

  The full protocol for the snapshot programme can be found at:

  http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/guidelines/clostridium-difficile/CDAD-snapshot-programme-1-0.pdf.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Healthcare Associated Infection Taskforce will review the guidance on trigger points in relation to the identification of cases of the 027 strain of Clostridium difficile.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) guidance on how to set triggers was circulated to NHS Scotland in June 2009. It is not yet on the HPS website because of amendments that are being made to terminology and cross referencing to recently updated documents.

  The Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) Trigger Tool, which describes the actions that should be taken in the event that a trigger is breached, can be found at:

  http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/ic/publicationsdetail.aspx?id=42508.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what Health Protection Scotland’s view is regarding the transmissibility and lethality of the 078 subtype of Clostridium difficile.

Nicola Sturgeon: The national reference laboratory advise that although this ribotype exists in Scotland, there have not been any particular concerns raised about its transmissibility or lethality above those seen with other strains of Clostridium difficile.

  Their expert advice is that all Clostridium difficile infections should be managed in accordance with the revised Health Protection Scotland Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) which was published in September 2009.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the September 2009 guidance from Health Protection Scotland contained 31 links to other documents, whether it will act on the advice of NHS QIS to simplify and clarify the range of guidance, protocols and toolkits on the control of Clostridium difficile infection and, if so, when.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Nursing Officer wrote to Health Protection Scotland on 24 November to ask that they develop a compendium of current national guidance on HAI.

  The compendium will provide NHS staff with an overview of up to date guidance and provide a first point of reference on necessary actions that should be taken by them for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infection.

  We expect the compendium to be published by 31 March 2010.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the public is informed as soon as possible of future outbreaks of Clostridium difficile.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps should be taken to ensure that patients and family members are informed and consulted as soon as possible when an outbreak of Clostridium difficile takes place.

Nicola Sturgeon: I have asked the HAI Task Force to urgently review the arrangements in place for notifying the public about outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at its next quarterly meeting of 8 December 2009 and provide me with their recommendations by end December 2009.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to upgrade the website reporting on Clostridium difficile to ensure that the information is made available in real time and presented in a way that (a) is uniform and (b) can be readily understood by the public.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are currently reviewing the structure and presentation of the HAI reporting template to consider what changes are needed to make the information easier to understand by the public. I expect this review to have concluded by March 2010.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when Health Protection Scotland (HPS) concluded or will conclude its guidelines on Clostridium difficile outbreaks and whether that and all other HPS guidance will be placed in the public domain.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Healthcare Settings in Scotland includes advice on the management of outbreaks. The latest version of this guidance was published on the HPS website in September 2009. The revised guidance can be found at http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/sshaip/guidelinedetail.aspx?id=42640 .

  All guidance produced by Health Protection Scotland and relevant supporting materials are published on their website, as and when appropriate.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the Health Facilities Scotland Health Associated Infection System for Controlling Risk In the Built Environment (HAI-SCRIBE) program to make it more user friendly in minor refurbishments rather than only in new-build and major refurbishments, as noted in the NHS QIS report, NHS Grampian, Report of Findings - June 2009, Infection Prevention and Control: Improving through Learning .

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Facilities Scotland established a working group to undertake a review if the Health Associated Infection System for Controlling Risk in the Built Environment (HAI-SCRIBE).

  This review led to the development of an Estates Monitoring Tool to monitor the estate and to help support the drive to reduce HAI across the NHS. The tool will be piloted by all NHS boards between January and March 2010 prior to national implementation from April 2010. This tool will cover all of the estate, including those facilities which require minor to major refurbishment.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the use of alcohol gel is not an effective substitute for hand washing with appropriate soap or disinfectant in preventing Clostridium difficile infection and, if so, whether it will implement a public awareness campaign on the issue.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is important that all staff, patients and visitors not only wash their hands with soap and warm water but combine this practice with the use of alcohol-based hand gels. This approach ensures that staff, patients and visitors are taking every precaution possible to reduce the risk of the spread of all avoidable infections. Hand gels are also available at hospital bedsides as a quick and effective way to protect patients and staff in between hand washing routines.

  We recognise that tackling healthcare associated infection (HAI) is everyone’s business - staff, visitors and patients - and all have a part to play in driving down infection rates in hospitals. That is why a public awareness raising campaign involving TV and radio adverts ran earlier this year to educate the public on the importance of hand hygiene in reducing the spread of infections. I also launched a further awareness raising campaign aimed at NHS staff, consisting of posters and other supporting materials, in March this year. This is being widened out next year to include the community setting.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the three NHS QIS Clostridium difficile outbreak review reports in 2009, whether it will review the implementation of antibiotic policy at hospital and community level as part of the Healthcare Associated Infection Taskforce work plan.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards have processes in place to ensure the implementation of the requirements of CEL 30(2008): Prudent Antimicrobial Prescribing: The Scottish Action Plan For Managing Antibiotic Resistance and Reducing Antibiotic Related Clostridium difficile Associated Disease.

  This work is supported by the Scottish Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan (ScotMARAP) programme which is currently being implemented by the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG). ScotMARAP details the national programme for tackling prudent prescribing over the next five years in primary and secondary care.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on reports of increasing difficulty in recruiting and retaining hospital pharmacists and whether it will undertake a review of the workforce to ensure that antimicrobial advice is readily available as part of the fight against Clostridium difficile.

Nicola Sturgeon: All NHS boards have implemented the requirements of CEL 30(2008): Prudent Antimicrobial Prescribing: The Scottish Action Plan for Managing Antibiotic Resistance and Reducing Antibiotic Related Clostridium difficile Associated Disease. This, along with many other related healthcare associated infection actions led by the Scottish Government, has resulted in Clostridium difficile cases for the April to June 2009 quarter falling by 42% on the same quarter last year with rates in Scotland now at a record low, almost halving over the previous 12 months.

  Antimicrobial pharmacists are specialised senior staff. As part of actions flowing from the Scottish Management of Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan (ScotMARAP), funding has been provided for the recruitment of antimicrobial pharmacists within each NHS board. I understand these pharmacists are now in post in all NHS boards with the exception of Western Isles who obtain antimicrobial advice from NHS Highland.

  In response to concerns over anecdotal reports regarding recruitment and retention issues with junior hospital pharmacists, Scottish health boards for the first time took part in the Pharmacy and Establishment Vacancy Survey conducted by the NHS Pharmacy Education and Development Committee on a UK-wide basis. The survey results showed no significant recruitment or retention difficulties for the majority of pharmacist grades. However, a higher level of vacancies were reported at the more junior pharmacist grades. We are currently analysing the survey data for Scotland in detail and will take appropriate steps to address any recruitment or retention issues identified.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s Fifty-second Report of Session 2008-09: Reducing Healthcare Associated Infection in Hospitals in England , whether it will publish its strategy and action plan on healthcare associated infections (HAI) such as pneumonia, skin infections, urinary tract infections and gastroenterological conditions other than Clostridium difficile, which the report indicates as accounting for 72% of HAI.

Nicola Sturgeon: Our strategy to tackle healthcare associated infections (HAI) in Scotland is set out in our three year HAI Task Force Delivery Plan for 2008-2011 , which was published on 7 March 2008. The delivery plan can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/07110818/0 .

  The delivery plan was informed by the findings of the HAI Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) published in July 2007, which identified the type and prevalence of infections in Scottish hospitals. It describes the areas where action will be taken to reduce HAI and includes, for example, catheter related urinary tract infections, ventilator associated pneumonia and central venous catheter infections.

  The delivery plan is, therefore, an extensive and wide-ranging programme aimed at tackling a range of conditions which can cause a HAI.

Influenza

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS boards will manage the additional workload of district nurses administering the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine to housebound patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards locally are responsible for managing workload of staff involved in the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme. Service delivery models have been put in place that seek to ensure efficient delivery of the vaccination programme balanced against available resources and the needs of other services.

Influenza

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the management of the additional workload of district nurses administering the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine to housebound patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government Health Directorate (SGHD) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have worked closely with NHS boards on planning for the influenza A (H1N1) vaccination programme. This has included approval of local service delivery models at a national level, and the SGHD and HPS continue to have weekly engagement with NHS boards on the progress of the vaccination programme.

  However, NHS boards remain responsible for managing the workload of their staff involved in the delivery of the vaccination programme.

Local Government Finance

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the capital expenditure figure of £24.6 million allocated to fire and rescue boards, as indicated in the local government finance settlement for 2010-11, will be distributed.

Fergus Ewing: Discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) on the allocations for 2010-11 are progressing well and a final decision will be made in January 2011.

NHS Hospitals

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when all services provided by the new Victoria Hospital will be fully operational.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Renal Dialysis Unit moved from Gartnavel General to the new Victoria Hospital on Sunday 22 November 2009.

  The laboratory at the new Victoria Hospital will be made operational when the remainder of the Victoria Infirmary closes down and the new South Glasgow Hospital opens in 2015. The laboratory at the Victoria Infirmary will continue to be fully operational in the meantime.

  All other services are fully operational.

NHS Hospitals

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29003 by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 November 2009, who will be liable if the costs of the new Southern General Hospital contract are exceeded.

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29002 by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 November 2009 regarding the capital cost of building the new Southern General Hospital, whether the cost of the three buildings will be capped at £670 million.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29188, on 2 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/default.aspx .

NHS Procurement

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what weight is given to the impact on jobs in the procurement of NHS equipment and consumables.

Nicola Sturgeon: It would be extremely difficult for procurement organisations to assess the direct causal impact of a contract opportunity on suppliers and it would be problematic to ensure an equity in approach across all suppliers.

NHS Procurement

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what weight is given to global carbon reduction in the procurement of NHS equipment and consumables.

Nicola Sturgeon: The purpose of the recently launched Scottish Government Sustainable Procurement Action Plan is to build sustainability, including carbon reduction, into the procurement process. The ten point procurement sustainability plan is being implemented across the public sector in Scotland with the majority of activities due to take place by the end of April 2010.

NHS Procurement

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance there is regarding the sourcing of local products for use in NHS Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: There is no specific guidance regarding the sourcing of local products for use in NHS Scotland. Local health boards and national NHS organisations work together to ensure a contract delivery that best suits the requirements of the NHS in Scotland. A commodity strategy is developed for each contract area which ensures full consideration of the shape of the supply market. Procurement processes continue to be reviewed to ensure SMEs have as simplified a process as possible to access public sector contracts.

Public Sector Staff

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent on public sector (a) pay and (b) pensions in 2008-09, broken down by sector.

John Swinney: This information will not be available until February 2010.

Rail Services

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken regarding the outcome of the trial period contained in the ScotRail franchise extension agreement.

Stewart Stevenson: I am today able to confirm that ScotRail performance during the trial period has met the criteria for continuation of the Franchise Agreement through to 2014 as contracted.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials are working on its sectarianism strategy, broken down by directorate.

Fergus Ewing: Work to tackle sectarianism is part of a broader strategy of work to tackle all forms of religious intolerance and racism, and involves many areas across Scottish Government. Whilst there are staff allocated to work on religious intolerance and faith issues, there are no officials who work exclusively on tackling sectarianism. However, the key elements of this agenda are being delivered by the following teams:

  

 Directorate
 Team
 Number of Team Members
 Activities


 Equalities, Social Inclusion and Sport Directorate
 Race, Religion and Refugee Integration
 7
Co-ordination on anti-sectarian work,Work with faith communities,Interfaith development.


 Sport
 4
 Citizenship through Football Partnership including anti-sectarian activity.


 Justice
 Police Powers and Public Protection
 5
Football Banning Orders,Marches and parades.


 Education
 Support for Learning
 3
Sectarianism: Don’t Give it, Don’t Take It schools resource,Twining schools.

St Andrew's Day

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities recognise St Andrew’s Day by making it a school holiday.

Keith Brown: This year St Andrew’s Day was a school holiday in Angus, Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders and Renfrewshire. Aberdeen City Council, although not designating St Andrew’s Day an official school holiday, had an in-service day on 30 November to allow pupils to celebrate the day.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to increase the uptake of the flu vaccination by older people.

Nicola Sturgeon: Seasonal flu vaccination uptake amongst those aged 65 and over continues to be in excess of the 70% national target (and in the last three years has been around or in excess of the 75% World Health Organization target).

  Although we are currently exceeding our target for this group, we are not complacent and will continue to use a national call-up letter for all those over the age of 65 as well as ensuring that marketing materials are distributed as widely as possible to reach this audience.

Vaccinations

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to increase the uptake of the flu vaccination by at-risk groups.

Nicola Sturgeon: Increased uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine amongst the at-risk groups remains a priority for the Scottish Government and in recent years we have made good progress in increasing uptake of the vaccine amongst this group.

  As in previous years, we have delivered an extensive marketing and awareness raising campaign to support the seasonal flu vaccination programme. Leaflets and posters have been widely distributed to GP surgeries, community pharmacies, NHS boards as well as to charitable organisations and local libraries to ensure that as many people as possible are made aware of the seasonal flu vaccination programme. Additionally, GPs locally have been encouraged to write to those under the age of 65 with clinical risk conditions to encourage them to attend for vaccination.

  This year, we have also deployed local advertising in areas where vaccination uptake has initially appeared to be lower than other areas.